Russian-Turkish ties have favorable effect on Mideast security - Erdogan

MOSCOW, January 23. /TASS/. Relations between Russia and Turkey have a favorable effect on security in the Middle East, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday at this year’s first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. "In many spheres, including military, cultural and commercial ones, the relations between our countries are developing. This certainly has a very positive effect on regional security," he said. "Within the framework of the Astana process we held trilateral summits in Moscow, Ankara and Tehran. This contributes to maintaining security [in the Middle East], too," he stated. The Turkish leader offered his condolences over the death of sailors in the Black Sea. "I take this opportunity to offer condolences to the relatives of those who died in the fire on two tankers in the Kerch Strait. Regrettably there were 16 Turkish citizens on board. Thank you for your considerate attitude," Erdogan said. Two tankers, the Maestro and the Candy, owned by a Turkish company, caught fire in in the Kerch Strait outside Russia’s territorial waters on January 21. According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred while fuel was pumped from one ship to another. There were seventeen sailors (nine Turkish and eight Indian citizens) on the Candy and fifteen sailors (both Turkish and Indian citizens) on the Maestro. Read more